Tamper.



P. A. STAFFORD.

TAMIBB. 7 APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1913.-

1,08 5 ,505,. Patented Jan 27,1914,

rnnpERrox A. STAFFORD, or CHARITON, IOWA.

TAMPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

Application filed January 20, 1913. Serial No. 743,008.

This invention relates to a novel tamper for tamping concrete and the like, and refers more specifically to a novel means of connecting the handle to the so arranged as to permit the plate to be deflected out of the line of the handle, so that the tamping plate may adjust itself to an inequality in the surface being tamped without danger'of breaking the handle or in j uring the user of the device, and may adjust itself. to surfaces The invention has for its object to otherwise improve and simplify the connection between the handle and tamper plate, and the invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tamper embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an axial section of the flexible connection between the handle and the tamper plate. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing theuse of the flexible connection between the handle and the tamper plate.

In the drawings, 10 designates the tamper plate, 11 the handle and 12 designates, as a whole, the :flexible connection between said plate and handle. The flexible connection between the plate and handle may be variously constructed to permit the platetto be turned or deflected out of line with the handle. It preferably embraces a resilient member constructed and arranged to restore thetamper plate toits normal position when unrestrained, so that the plate will always be in position for proper pres cntat-ionto the plane of the bed of concrete or other work. A preferred construction of such connection which I have found efficient in practice consists of a closely which form a part of this" tamping plate.

disposed at an oblique angle to the handle. I

. the

wound coil of resilient wire of cylindric con"- tour. As a means of connecting the coil with the tamper plate and handle, the said plate may be provided with an upstanding screwthreaded stud 14, the thread of which is of a pitch to engage the turns of the coil, and the lower'end 15 of the handle may be likewise screw-threaded to engage into the outer end of said coil. The l terminates short of the stud 14, being spaced therefrom by a number of turns of the coil, so as to give to the flexible connection considerable degree of flexibility between the handle and the stud.

ower end of the handle In order that the flexible coil connection may be readily screwed ofi the tamper plate stud, ,and that the lower end of the handle may be screwed out of the coil, the terminals of the coil are extended beyond the contour proper of the coil to provide releasing ends 10, 17 to facilitate theremoval of the coil from said stud and the handle from the coil. The coil may be readily screwed into the tamperplate stud and the handle readily screwed into the coil, inasmuch as the action of the parts at this time has a tendency to open the coiland readily admit the screwthreaded assembling. When turned in the other direction, however, either the coil on stud 14, or the handle in the coil, the friction between the parts has a tendency to close the coil and, therefore, bind the coil on the parts so that the coil may not be released therefrom. However, by pressing the terminal ends 16, 17 of thecoil in the direc-" t'on toopen the turns of the coil, such bindng or clamping action is not manifested, and the parts are free for ready dismemberment. I

The flexible connection permits the tamper plate to adjust itself to inequalities in the surface being tamped without throwing a strain on the handle tending to break the handle or sprain the wrist of the user, such as occurs in rigid handle tampers. Moreover, should the tamper plate be presented to the tamped surface at an oblique angle, the flexible connection described permlts the plate to adjust itself to the plane of the work, and without a; tendency to dig up or displace the concrete work. The resilient flexible connection such as the coil spring shown, insuresthat the tamper plate will resume its normal position when lifted from the work so that its face will be in proper position for subsequent presentationto the work.

I claim as my invention 1. A tamper comprising a tamper plate,

a handle and a closely wound spring wire as my invention I aflix my signature in the coil connecting the handle and the plate.

2. A tamper comprising a-tamper plate, a handle and a closely wound spring wire coil, said plate being provided with a screwthreaded stud for screw-threaded engagement with one end of the coil, and the handle being screw-threaded into the other end of the coil.

3* A tamper comprising a tamper plate, 15 a handle and a closely wound spring wire coil connecting the handle and plate the terminals of the wire extending beyond the coil to constitute releasing ends.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing 20 presence of two witnesses, this 17th day of January, A. D. 1913.

n FREDERICK A. STAFFORD.

Witnesses WV. L. HALL, G. E. Downn. 

